Aerosol dispensing device

ABSTRACT

An aerosol dispensing device comprises a tubular body that provides a plenum, a mouthpiece having an outlet, a valve for dispensing fluid from a canister as an aerosol with relatively large and small droplet sizes into the plenum for supply to a user through the mouthpiece, and a baffle arrangement that provides first and second passageways each coupled at one end to the plenum and so configured to receive relatively small and large size droplets in the aerosol respectively, the other end of the first passageway extending to the outlet in the mouthpiece to supply the small size droplets to the user, and the other end of the second passageway being closed to inhibit passage of the large size droplets to the mouthpiece outlet, and containing a absorbent pad to prevent leakage of liquid from the canister. The pad may be pre-loaded with a flavourant.

CLAIM FOR PRIORITY

This application is a National Stage Entry entitled to and hereby claimspriority under 35 U.S.C. §§365 and 371 to corresponding PCT ApplicationNo. PCT/EP2009/053635, filed Mar. 26, 2009, which in turn claimspriority to British Application Serial No. GB 0808154.9, filed May 6,2008. The entire contents of the aforementioned applications are hereinexpressly incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an aerosol dispensing device for dispensing anaerosol to a user for inhalation, for example a nicotine-containingaerosol.

BACKGROUND

Hitherto, proposals have been made for a device reminiscent of aconventional tobacco-containing cigarette, for inhalingnicotine-containing products. For example U.S. Pat. No. 4,393,884discloses an inhaler having a generally cylindrical body that receives acanister of pressurised fluid that contains nicotine, which is dispensedfor inhalation when a user draws on the device in a manner similar todrawing smoke from a conventional cigarette. U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,929discloses a generally cylindrical body containing a supply of nicotineand pressurised gas which is mixed in a valve to create an aerosoldirected to a mouthpiece for a user. The body of the device includes abaffle arrangement to block the passage of relatively large dropletscreated in the aerosol and allow only smaller size droplets to pass tothe mouthpiece for inhalation. However, a problem with this device isthat the larger droplets may undesirably drain from the device in aliquid stream.

Also, the mere use of a nicotine aerosol may not find acceptance bysmokers as a substitute for conventional cigarettes that provide tobaccosmoke for inhalation, due to the lack of smoke flavour in the nicotineaerosol.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, there is provided an aerosol dispensingdevice comprising a body that provides a plenum, a mouthpiece, a valvefor dispensing a fluid as an aerosol with relatively large and smalldroplet sizes into the plenum for supply to a user through themouthpiece, and a baffle arrangement that provides first and secondpassageways each coupled at one end to the plenum and so configured toreceive relatively small and large size droplets in the aerosolrespectively, the other end of the first passageway extending to anoutlet in the mouthpiece to supply the small size droplets to the user,and the other end of the second passageway being closed to inhibitpassage of the large size droplets to the mouthpiece.

A member may be provided to capture the large size droplets within thesecond passageway, for example an absorbent pad may be located at theother end of the second passageway to capture the large size droplets.The pad may be pre-loaded with a tobacco flavourant in order to improvethe acceptability of the nicotine aerosol provided to the user throughthe mouthpiece.

The body may be generally tubular and thereby reminiscent of acigarette, with the mouthpiece at one end thereof.

The baffle arrangement may comprise an elongate baffle member within thetubular body extending from the plenum towards the mouthpiece in orderto provide the first and second passageways. The baffle member may begenerally cylindrical and configured so that the first passageway isbetween the body and the baffle member and the second passageway iswithin the baffle member. The tubular member and baffle member may becoaxially arranged.

The baffle member may include side apertures to permit aerosol to flowfrom the second passageway to the first passageway.

At least one air vent may be provided through the body member to allowexternal air to be drawn into the aerosol supplied to the mouthpiece.

The valve may be operable to open and supply the aerosol into the plenumin response to a user puffing on the mouthpiece. The valve may include avalve seat in the body, an orifice extending through the valve seat andconfigured to be supplied with pressurised fluid for forming theaerosol, and a moveable valve member resiliently biased against thevalve seat to obturate the orifice and so configured that a pressurereduction caused by a user puffing on the mouthpiece causes the valvemember to move away from the valve seat to release pressurised fluidthrough the orifice.

The valve member may include a flexible diaphragm which may includeapertures to allow the passage of aerosol, biased by a compressionspring towards the valve seat.

The body may include a chamber to receive the pressurised fluid, whichmay be held in a replaceable canister.

The pressurised fluid may include nicotine and/or other suitableflavours such as for example a tobacco extract, and the overall dress ofthe device may generally correspond to that of a conventionaltobacco-containing filter cigarette.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, an embodimentthereof will now be described by way of illustrative example withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an aerosol device;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the component parts of the device shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a valve arrangement shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the removal mouthpiece of the devicefrom one end;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a mouthpiece from the other endillustrating the mouthpiece outlet; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the mouthpiece shown in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, the aerosol device has a generally cylindrical,tubular body of a size and dress generally corresponding to aconventional tobacco-containing cigarette. The device has a mouthpiecemember 1, a proximal tubular body member 2 coupled to a distal tubularbody member 3 having an end cap 4.

As shown in FIGS. 2 & 3, the distal tube 3 of the body member 3 acts asa chamber that receives a canister 5 charged with a pressurised fluidcontaining a substance to be inhaled by the user e.g. nicotine or anicotine containing substance or mixture. The canister may bepressurised with a gas such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide or may containa propellant such as hydrofluroalkane. The canister 5 has an internalvalve 6 operated by depression of an inwardly slidable outlet tube 7 torelease pressurised fluid from within the canister. The structure of thevalve 6 can be conventional, of the type commonly used in pressurisedaerosol sprays to provide a continuous rather than a metered flow, andso will not be described in further detail herein. In order to fit thecanister into the device, the end cap 4 is removed from a threadedfitment 8 on the far end of the distal tube 3 and the canister 5 is slidinto the distal tube so as to abut a canister valve coupling 9 locatedbetween the proximal and distal body tubes 2, 3.

The canister valve coupling 9 includes an inlet part 10 and an outletpart 11 shown in more detail in FIG. 4. The inlet part 10 includes anaxial, tubular opening 12 which is formed with an annular flange 13 thatcaptures an O-ring 14. In use, the outlet tube 7 of the canister 5 isinserted into the opening 12 to abut the outlet part 11. As the canister5 is moved into position and the end cap 4 is closed, the canister valvetube 7 is forced inwardly of the canister 5 to open the valve 6. Apressure seal is formed by the O-ring 14 and also by a gasket 15 withinthe opening 12. The outlet part 11 includes an axial orifice 16 forsupplying pressurised fluid from the canister 5 in the direction of themouthpiece 1.

Flow of the fluid from the canister is controlled by a valve 17 thatcomprises a valve seat 18 formed in the outlet part 11 of the valvecoupling 9, and an axially moveable valve member 19 that comprises agenerally cup-shaped diaphragm which abuts at its periphery a transversebulkhead 20 that contains an outlet nozzle 21. The valve member 19 alsoincludes a central valve block 22 which is biased by a compressionspring 23 against the valve seat 18 so as normally to close the orifice16.

The valve 17 is configured to open and release pressurised fluid fromthe canister 5 in response to a user drawing on the mouthpiece, in amanner corresponding to drawing smoke from a conventionaltobacco-containing cigarette. The puffing action reduces pressure in theproximal tube 2 of the body and the reduced pressure is communicatedthrough the outlet nozzle 21 such that the pressure of fluid in thecanister 5 can act against the force of the compression spring 23 tomove the valve block 22 towards mouthpiece, thereby opening the orifice16 so that fluid from the canister 5 can flow towards the mouthpiece 1through the orifice 16. The diaphragm 19 includes a plurality of smallapertures 24 to allow the fluid to flow through the diaphragm and thenpass through the outlet nozzle 21 into the proximal tube part 2. Thediameter of the outlet nozzle 21 is configured to produce an aerosolspray of fluid into the proximal tube part 2 of the body.

For example, assuming a pressure of 125 psi in the canister 5 and anorifice diameter of 0.2 mm, the force of the pressurized fluid acting toopen the diaphragm 19 is approximately 3 grams. The domed, cup shape ofthe diaphragm 19 will move to open the valve 17 in response to a userapplying negative pressure during inhalation that exceeds the closureforce. In this example, if a safety factor of 2 is assumed to keep theoutlet closed by means of the spring 23 i.e. approx 6 grams, and with adiaphragm diameter of approximately 8 mm, the negative pressure neededto open the valve 17 is approximately 0.16 psi. This also provides thebenefit of a “built-in” natural resistance for the inhalation thatapproximates to the resistance of a conventional cigarette.

The bulkhead 20 includes a diametric groove 25 aligned with the outletnozzle 21 so that if the valve block 22 abuts bulkhead 20 whilst thevalve is opened, it does not block the outlet nozzle 21 since fluid thatpasses through the diaphragm apertures 24 can pass along the groove 25into the nozzle 21.

The mouthpiece 1 comprises a generally tubular member that may beintegrally moulded in a plastics material and is configured to beremovably fitted into the proximal tube part 2 for interchange. In thisexample, the mouthpiece 1 is push-fitted into the proximal tube part 2to assume a configuration shown in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the mouthpiece 1 includes a cylindricalouter part 26 and a coaxial generally cylindrical inner part 27. At theproximal end of the mouthpiece, the inner part 27 defines a continuoustube which is closed at the proximal end of the mouthpiece by an endplate 28. Towards the distal end, the inner part 27 includes sideapertures 29 disposed between wings 30 that in this example comprisecylindrical extensions of the inner part 27. The inner part 27 thus actsas a baffle member as explained in more detail hereinafter.

A pad 31 of absorbent material is included within the inner part 27 atits closed end 28. The pad 31 may be formed of cellulose acetatematerial of the kind conventionally used in filters fortobacco-containing cigarettes and may be impregnated with a tobaccoflavourant e.g. menthol and/or a flavourant which simulates the aroma oftobacco smoke e.g. by pre-exposing the pad 31 to tobacco smoke. However,it will be appreciated that the pad 31 can be made of other absorbentmaterials.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the mouthpiece 1 is inserted into the tube 2, aplenum 32 is provided in the tube 2 adjacent to the outlet nozzle 21 forthe aerosol produced from fluid in the canister 5. The inner and outerparts 26, 27 of the mouthpiece 1 define first and second passagewaysextending from the plenum 32 towards the proximal end of the mouthpiece1. The first passageway 33 is generally cylindrical and provided betweenthe inner and outer parts 26, 27 of the mouthpiece. The first passageway33 has an inlet that communicates with the plenum 32 and an outletcoupled to outlet apertures 34 in the mouthpiece 1, for supplyingaerosol from the plenum 32 to the user in response to the user drawingon the mouthpiece.

Referring to FIG. 3, the proximal tube 2 includes air vents 35 adjacentthe bulkhead 20 that allow external air to be drawn into the plenum 32in response to the user drawing on the mouthpiece 1. The air mixes withthe aerosol in the plenum 32 to dilute the aerosol supplied to the userthrough the passageway 33.

The aerosol emitted by the nozzle 21 will have a range of droplet sizesand the mouthpiece and baffle arrangement 1 is configured so that onlyrelatively small size aerosol droplets reach the user. For example, thenozzle configuration may produce droplets with a size range of 2 μm to200 μm, although for effective delivery, a relatively small droplet sizerange of less than 50 μm may desirable, for example in the range of 2.5μm to 4 μm for lung delivery or 20 μm to 50 μm for buccal delivery. Therelatively large sized droplets due to their large mass tend to beprojected more longitudinally of the axis of the mouthpiece as comparedwith the smaller size droplets. The inner part 27 acts as a secondpassageway 36 that is closed by end plate 28 and captures the relativelylarge size droplets, which can be absorbed by the pad 31 to prevent aleakage of liquid from the canister passing to the mouthpiece andthrough openings 34. Furthermore, the dampening of the pad 31 by theaerosol may facilitate release of the flavourant from the pad which willbecome mixed into the aerosol flow supplied to the user through thefirst passageway 33. The mouthpiece 1 can be easily removed to allow themouthpiece to be changed, in particular to allow the pad 31 to bechanged when its flavourant becomes expired.

Referring again to FIG. 1, it will be understood that the dress of theaerosol device may be configured to correspond to the appearance of aconventional cigarette, with the end cap 4 corresponding to the ash, thedistal tube 3 corresponding to the tobacco rod and the proximal tube 2corresponding to the filter. However, unlike a conventional cigarette,the device described herein operates without emitting tobacco smoke. Thecanister may include sufficient pressurised fluid to replicate thesmoking of a plurality e.g. twenty conventional tobacco-containingcigarettes, after which the canister may be removed and replaced byunscrewing the end cap 4.

Many modifications and variations of the described example of theinvention will be evident to those skilled in the art, which fall withinthe scope of the claims hereinafter. For example, although the describeddevice is charged with pressurised fluid in the canister 5, the chamberwithin the distal tube 3 could be a sealed chamber which is directedcharged with pressurised fluid through a filling valve. Also, the deviceneed not be tubular in appearance and other body shaped could be used.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An aerosol dispensing device comprising: abody that provides a plenum, a mouthpiece having an outlet, a fluiddispensing valve that dispenses a fluid as an aerosol with relativelylarge and small droplet sizes into the plenum for supply through themouthpiece, and a baffle arrangement that provides first and secondpassageways each coupled at one end to the plenum and configured toreceive relatively small and large size droplets in the aerosolrespectively, the other end of the first passageway extending to theoutlet in the mouthpiece forming a supply passageway for the small sizedroplets, and the other end of the second passageway forming a closedpassageway inhibiting passage of the large size droplets to themouthpiece outlet.
 2. The device according to claim 1, including amember that captures the large size droplets within the secondpassageway.
 3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the membercomprises an absorbent pad at the other end of the second passageway. 4.The device according to claim 3, wherein the pad is pre-loaded with atobacco flavourant.
 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the bodyis generally tubular with the mouthpiece at one end thereof, and thebaffle arrangement comprises an elongate baffle member within thetubular body extending from the plenum towards the mouthpiece outlet andforming the first and second passageways.
 6. The device according toclaim 5, wherein the baffle member is generally cylindrical and thefirst passageway is between the body and the baffle member and thesecond passageway is within the baffle member.
 7. The device accordingto claim 6, wherein the tubular body and the baffle member are coaxiallyarranged.
 8. The device according to claim 5, wherein the mouthpiece andthe baffle member are formed as a single unit which is removably mountedon the tubular body.
 9. The device according to claim 8, wherein themouthpiece comprises a tubular outer part with the baffle member beingconfigured within the outer part, whereby the first passageway is formedbetween the outer part and the baffle member.
 10. The device accordingto claim 1, wherein the baffle member includes side apertures throughwhich aerosol flows from the second passageway to the first passageway.11. The device according to claim 1, including at least one air ventthrough the body, the air vent being configured to draw external airinto the aerosol supplied to the mouthpiece.
 12. The device according toclaim 1, wherein the valve is operable to open and supply the aerosolinto the plenum in response to a user drawing on the mouthpiece.
 13. Thedevice according to claim 12, wherein the valve includes a valve seat inthe body, an orifice extending though the valve seat and configured toreceive pressurized fluid for forming the aerosol, and a movable valvemember resiliently biased against the valve seat to obturate the orificeand so configured that a pressure reduction caused by a user drawing onthe mouthpiece causes the valve member to move away from the valve seatto release pressurized fluid through the orifice.
 14. The deviceaccording to claim 13, wherein the valve member includes a flexiblediaphragm.
 15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the diaphragmincludes apertures configured to allow passage of the aerosol, and isbiased by a compression spring towards the valve seat.
 16. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the plenum is bounded on one side by abulkhead that includes a nozzle that supplies aerosol from the valveinto the plenum.
 17. The device according to claim 1, wherein the bodyincludes a receiving chamber that receives pressurized fluid.
 18. Thedevice according to claim 17, wherein the receiving chamber isconfigured to receive a replaceable canister of the pressurized fluid.19. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is charged witha fluid that contains nicotine.
 20. The device according to claim 1, andhaving a dress generally corresponding to that of a tobacco containingfilter cigarette.